Here are the top 10 points on this big story:
The court also directed the centre to call an emergency meeting of states and other authorities on Tuesday to chalk out immediate steps to reduce the toxic smog and said it would hear the matter again the next day.
Sharply pulling up the Delhi government for "lame excuses" and "passing the buck", and insisting on urgent measures rather than long-term goals, the Supreme Court said the capital's air pollution was a "crisis".
In a significant disclosure, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that farm waste burning accounted for just 10 per cent of the emissions on average through the year.
In an affidavit filed before the hearing, the Delhi government told the court that it was ready to take steps like a complete lockdown to fight air pollution though it will have a limited effect. Similar restrictions will be needed for the neighbouring areas of Delhi too, which come under the National Capital Region (NCR), it said.
"The Delhi government is ready to take steps like complete lockdown to control local emissions. However, such a step would be meaningful if it is implemented across the NCR areas in neighbouring states. Given Delhi's compact size, a lockdown would have limited impact on the air quality regime," says the affidavit.
Listing the steps taken so far, Delhi said no physical classes would be held in schools this week and government officials would work from home. Private offices have also been advised to Work From Home. Construction sites will be shut for three days.
Hearing the case on Saturday, Chief Justice NV Ramana had asked the central government to come up with an emergency plan to tackle the dangerous smog, calling the situation "very serious".
Asking the centre and states to submit their response by Monday, the Chief Justice said: "You tell us how do you plan to take the emergency measures? Two-day lockdown? What is your plan on lowering the AQI (Air Quality Index) levels?".
Air quality in Delhi, often ranked the world's most polluted capital, has declined due to crop stubble burning, emissions from transport, coal-fired plants outside the city and other industries, as well as open garbage burning and dust.
Although it was in the ''very poor'' category, Delhi reported an improvement in the air quality on Sunday recording a 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) of 330 against 437 the previous day as emissions from farm fires in Haryana and Punjab dropped significantly. The AQI was 471 on Friday, the worst this season so far.
Delhi Doctors Report Rise In Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease In Children Admission Deadline Extended For EWS And Special Needs Children In Delhi Schools 'Hashim Baba', Gangster Behind Delhi Hospital Shooting, Faces 16 Cases 25,000 Aspirants For Airport Jobs Paying Rs 22,000: A Mumbai Stampede Scare 4 Top Leaders Quit Ajit Pawar's Party In Major Setback After Poll Drubbing Karnataka's 100% Quota Bill For Kannadigas In Private Firms For These Posts MCom, BBA, BCom: The Many Aspirants For Handyman's Job At Mumbai Airport Why Donald Trump Picked JD Vance As His Vice President Candidate Rs 1.98 Crore Relief In Mercedes Hit-And-Run, Car Was Driven By Minor Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.